After four years developing with the Washington Capitals organization and making history as the first Australian to play in the National Hockey League, Nathan Walker continues his feel-good story with the Edmonton Oilers.

The Capitals placed the 23-year-old winger on waivers Thursday, and Edmonton claimed him before the deadline.

The Sydney native, originally inspired to play hockey by his older brother and the 1992 film “The Mighty Ducks”, had an unusual road to Washington, and, now, Edmonton. Limited hockey opportunities in Australia led him to the Czech Republic to play in more advanced leagues and, ultimately, being selected 89th overall in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

“There’s only 30 rinks in the whole country… it’s more so the culture of Australia to play sports other than hockey,” Walker said of his journey.

In four years and 202 games developing with the AHL’s Hershey Bears, Walker racked up 34 goals and 79 points, setting the stage for his first NHL season.

Opportunity Opens and Closes with Caps

“It’s fun to play with a guy who brings that much energy,” Jay Beagle said of Walker. “He’s always had that energy and he’s always, y’know, been a little guy who grinds it out and isn’t afraid to get in there, get in the corners and win a lot of battles.”

Beagle’s quote about Walker speaks volumes for how the Caps players, coaches and management viewed him. Walker earned a spot on the opening-night roster this season with a strong training camp, seizing an opportunity with an upper-echelon team in transition, one with roster spots open for the taking for the first time in a long time.

Walker made his NHL debut against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 6, scoring in his NHL debut, but that was his only point and he played in just seven games with the Capitals. Walker was a healthy scratch the last six games, and in nine of the last ten. He did not play consecutive games after the first two of the season, logging fewer than ten minutes in five of his seven appearances.

Recently, Walker told Sporting News Canada that the most important factor was still “trying to grow pretty much in every aspect of the game,” and to make sure he was prepared to draw back in at any time.

“I just gotta make sure I’m in game shape and still doing everything I can so whenever they do want me in the lineup, need me in the lineup, I’m ready to go,” Walker said.

What Walker Brings to Edmonton

Like many of Edmonton’s bottom-six forwards, Walker is a physical, versatile winger who throws his weight around and brings toughness and grit. According to Walker, this style of play is still important even in today’s NHL.

“It definitely changes dynamics of the game,” Walker told Sporting News Canada. “It can change momentum pretty quickly. It can take a toll on the defense as well, going back for pucks or making them think twice about the puck. Definitely, as the game wears on, a physical presence helps.”

While the 5-foot-8, 186-pound forward is not big, he relies on speed and a willingness to play a physical brand of hockey. Walker sees himself as a “pest”, able to get in the gritty areas and win battles for the puck, while also playing a high-energy game that inspires his teammates. If needed, Walker is not afraid to drop the gloves either.

"He looks like a hungry player," Edmonton coach Todd McLellan said of Walker.

The Oilers struggle mightily to score, as evidenced by their average of just 2.7 goals per game, and they need more secondary scoring and a better performance from their bottom-six. With Walker, they will get more competition on their forward lines, and a player who wins puck battles and generates momentum in the offensive zone. Ultimately, though, to stay in the lineup, Walker needs to score goals and put up points for a team desperate for offensive punch.